General Retrospect. i8i 



of the opportunity of more closely examining the environs of 

 the city. Nor were we more successful in making ourselves 

 at home here, notwithstanding the kind reception with 

 which we were favoured by the Government and some private 

 individuals. There is, in short, a great want of sociability, 

 and we may add, almost utter indifference to scientific pursuits, 

 which indeed appeal in vain to the great majority of the 

 Brazilian population. Of course there are numerous and 

 agreeable exceptions ; but slavery, the mixture of races, the 

 egotism and indolence of the wealthier classes, are all reasons 

 why a European, just arrived, cannot feel himself comfort- 

 able. The white Brazilians bear, in some respects, a strong 

 resemblance to the Italians, but they are deficient in their 

 pleasing, insinuating demeanour, in their cheerful humour, 

 quickness of perception, and lively imagination. They oc- 

 cupy a lower scale in social culture, without depth of 

 thought or feeling, and seem almost incapable of persevering 

 activity. This perceptible deficiency of hearty, energetic tem- 

 perament, in addition to the confused intermingling of other 

 foreign nations, which seem to regard the country as booty, 

 to be abandoned so soon as success has crowned their labours, 

 imparts to each new arrival a feeling of depression, which, so 

 far from being weakened, is yet more keenly felt by those 

 who have lived some time in the country, so that not merely 

 among foreigners recently arrived, but with those also who 

 have spent years at Rio, the desire to leave these shores 

 becomes rather increased than diminished by a longer ac- 

 quaintance. 



